On 15.01.2007 David W. Fenton wrote:
Certainly the orchestra before c1750 was very, very different from the modern orchestra (in reality, I'd say it was a completely different animal).
I completely agree. I have come to the conclusion that anything but single or double string forces (meaning two to a part) was the exception.
Isn't it interesting how we make a distinction between "orchestral" and "chamber" music, yet in the early 18th century the distinction was between "church" and "chamber" music, and what we call "orchestral" now was in fact "chamber" music, ie the Bach "orchestral" suites, and Brandenburg concertos in particular.
That is not to say there were no larger orchestral performances. Handel's Messiah is a good example.
Johannes -- http://www.musikmanufaktur.com http://www.camerata-berolinensis.de _______________________________________________ Finale mailing list [email protected] http://lists.shsu.edu/mailman/listinfo/finale
